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For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. An elegant and spacious Alaska cruise ship with fresh floral arrangements and garden-inspired décor. Master frontier flavor with regional cooking demonstrations on board. Wander through the open-air markets with stalls offering vanilla, sarongs, and produce. Choose from one of many fantastic fares on our luxurious overnight cruises. The price range for their port excursions typically falls between $99 and $259 per person and you won’t find these much cheaper by going through a local tour operator.
Tahiti & the Society Islands
Make sure you also try coconut crab, a rich dish of salty seafood and sweet coconut. Escape the city heat at the botanical gardens of the French Polynesia Assembly Complex. Stroll past an herb garden, tiki statues and a tranquil moss-covered pond, where Queen Pomare of Tahiti used to bathe every morning. Or head to the beautiful Paofai Gardens, where the trails take you past the bay and through ornamental fish ponds.
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Before heading back to the pier, a crew member will dive under the boat to attract schools of fish for your viewing by feeding them right under the glass. Upon returning to the boat, refreshments and additional snorkelling time will be made available before you are transferred back to Motu Mahana. Following your snorkeling session, you will embark the canoe for the return ride to the Motu Mahana for Paul Gauguin's Beach BBQ.
Outbreak Affects Holland America Ship During 35-Day Cruise - Cruise Hive
Outbreak Affects Holland America Ship During 35-Day Cruise.
Posted: Tue, 12 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Papeete Shore Excursions
Enjoy sunny Fakarava, one of earth’s most beautiful places that’s been named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Discover rare species of nesting birds and marine life living in harmony and immerse yourself in Tahiti’s authentic experiences. "Windstar offers a distinctly different cruise experience in Tahiti." Windstar has been sailing in Tahiti for 35 years, so we have all the insider knowledge and local access to show you Tahiti in a comprehensive way no one else can. If you haven’t seen one Tahitian island, let alone eight, plan to see them aboard the Windstar yacht that suits your cruising style. Paul Gauguin Cruises, offers an all-inclusive luxury cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of French Polynesia and the South Pacific.
Ultimate water playground
Take control of your Cessna 172 plane (or Piper PA28 if Cessna not available), together with a professional instructor and experience an amazing hour scenic flight over Moorea and Tetiaroa. No prior flight experience is required to fully enjoy this unique Flight Initiation Tour. From here, you will take the main road en route to the Fruit Juice Factory, where you will enjoy a brief stop. Your guide will then drive you across a large plantation filled with vanilla, bananas, grapefruits, and oranges, and will acquaint you with the island's diverse flora and fauna.
Visit archaeological sites, sacred blue-eyed eels, a black pearl farm, and an easy 40-minute snorkel on this land and sea tour of Huahine. Check out after an included breakfast and you will be transferred to the port of Moorea, to embark on a ferry back to Papeete. Upon arriving in Tahiti, a local representative will assist you in embarking Le Paul Gauguin for your journey through the islands. Turn your transfer into a respite and enjoy a relaxing day in a beautiful resort setting with Paul Gauguin Cruises’ Day Room Program. Exciting shore excursions await, but so does Motu Mahana, Paul Gauguin Cruises’ own private islet.
Lagoon cruise & Polynesian feast
After descending to a shallow depth of 10 feet (3 meters) maximum, your 30-minute underwater exploration will begin. Your dive instructor will guide you in the water and throughout the tour to help ensure a smooth and easy underwater ride. Next call on Raiatea, an isle covered in lush green valleys and numerous waterfalls. Comprised of very low-lying atolls, none of the chain's many islets rise more than ten feet above sea level.
If you have the opportunity to incorporate this into your Windstar journey, it’s a decision you won’t regret! Feel free to contact me with any questions about the logistics of adding this to your trip. I have always dreamed of spending the night in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora, so we took this opportunity to plan a stay at the Four Seasons Bora Bora! Their concierge set up a taxi to meet us at the port for a quick 20-minute drive and another 5-minute boat shuttle to the resort.
The m/s Paul Gauguin is one of the most highly awarded luxury cruise ships in the world, regularly receiving top honors for superb luxury, quality, service, itineraries and value. Huahine has left an indelible impression on every traveler fortunate enough to visit. Once the abode of Tahitian royalty, this island holds the highest concentration of ancient marae (temples) in French Polynesia, some believed to trace back to the Tahitians’ original ancestors. We spent the most dreamy 24 hours at the resort for memories that will last a lifetime.
And enjoy your guide's commentary about the daily lives of the Polynesian island residents all along the way. Depart the pier in Cook's Bay for the brief transfer via minivan to the Hilton Moorea Lagoon & Spa, where the ATVs are based. Upon arrival, you will receive your safety and riding instructions. Your guide will lead you along the road to Belvedere lookout for magnificent views and photo opportunities over Cook's Bay, Opunohu Bay, and Mt. Rotui.
I was surprised at the affordability of this cruise and, overall, I have found a Windstar cruise to be the best way to explore French Polynesia. With this itinerary, I visited 6 different islands in 7 days (they also offer an extended 11-day option and cruises that include the remote Marquesas Islands). Attempting to visit even half of these islands independently would have entailed substantial planning and significantly higher expenses. During your flight you might also spot dolphins, sharks and stingrays in the crystal-clear waters of the lagoon.
With two days anchored in Bora Bora, there’s plenty of time to explore this gorgeous island and lagoon. First, I recommend taking the local bus ($5 US per person) to Matira Beach — known as the prettiest public beach in Bora Bora. For guests who want to immerse themselves into the culture of these storied islands, Windstar draws on their long experience here to create unforgettable memories. You’ll discover each island visited — from Tahiti and Moorea to Riatea, Huahine and Bora Bora — has its own unique charm and personality. Just say the word, “Tahiti,” and, for many, it instantly evokes images of serene islands rising from sparkling waters in every hue of blue, palm trees swaying over pristine, white sands.
Tahiti and the Society Islands have inspired generations of artists and writers seeking to capture their magical allure. Among countless others, Herman Melville, James A. Michener, Henri Matisse—and of course Paul Gauguin himself—were transfixed by these islands. Fluid lines, light-filled spaces and a blend of modern elegance and nautical tradition make Koningsdam a sublime ship for Alaska cruises.
Depart the pier in Vaitape (or Anau) aboard an outrigger canoe for a scenic ride in the Bora Bora lagoon (weather permitting). You will then continue to the Lagoonarium, with its white sandy beach and open-air aquarium. From the beach you will have a magnificent view of the island of Bora Bora. Upon arrival, enjoy an opportunity to swim in separate enclosed areas. During your visit, you will also participate in up-close encounters with marine life, including sharks, rays, jack fish, turtles, parrot fish, and more.
Country club or island chic is the order of the day — in the heat you’ll want to dress for comfort. In late 2022, we took a Caribbean holiday cruise on Star Legend, the sister yacht to Star Breeze, so we were very familiar with the layout. We learned the previous cruise to ours had encountered stormy weather, which forced it to miss several ports of call (November to April is the rainy season).
